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The Secrets of Memory Geniuses: What Techniques Allow Them to Remember Hundreds of Names?
A memory savant is an individual with extraordinary memory abilities who can quickly and accurately recall large amounts of information, such as unfamiliar names, lists of numbers, or entries from books. Their memory surprises many people, and some of these memories may be the contents of long poems, speeches, or even entire novels or non-fiction books. The term derives from “mnemonics,” which are strategies that aid memory (such as the method of loci or the principal system), but not all memory prodigies report using mnemonics.
"The art of memory is often more important than knowledge."
There has always been debate over whether memory geniuses have innate memory abilities or rely on techniques to improve their abilities. While the jury is still out on whether this talent is innate, the techniques used by memory prodigies are well documented and studied. In fact, many memory champions at the World Memory Championships have stated that they use mnemonic strategies, such as the method of loci, to demonstrate exceptional memory performance.
The structure of memory techniques
The implementation of memory techniques can generally be divided into three main steps: meaningful encoding, retrieval structure, and accelerated memory. First, during the encoding phase, information is encoded through meaningful associations, and many experts break long lists into more manageable chunks that fit within the capacity of short-term memory.
"Recall requires not perfect ability but structure."
Meaningful Coding
During encoding, memory experts typically group information into three or four elements. For example, the number sequence 1-9-4-5 could be remembered as "the year World War II ended." Additionally, memory savants use prior knowledge to encode new information. Studies have found that prior knowledge of a subject significantly improves people's ability to remember it.
Extract Structure
Next comes the creation of retrieval structures that allow for flexible recall of the encoded information. The retrieval structures of memory experts are often organized into hierarchical nodes, where each node holds a retrieval cue for the information. One of the hierarchical retrieval methods is the method of loci, which memory geniuses rely on to organize and retrieve information.
Location Memory Method
The location memory method uses an orderly arrangement of locations and places images of the things or names that need to be remembered inside them. During the memorization process, the memory genius selects an architectural area and associates each item to be remembered with a unique image. When recalling, they simply "walk" to the predetermined locations and see each image to recall the information that goes with it.
"Memory should not only be a reappearance, but also a visual journey."
Speed up memory
The final step in the theory of memory is acceleration. With increased practice, the time required for encoding and retrieval operations can be greatly reduced, and information can be stored in a few seconds. Interestingly, many subjects who take memory tests tend to improve over time with continued testing.
Learning and talent of ability
There is still a disagreement among the scientific community as to whether memorizing expertise is a learned skill or an innate ability. There is some evidence that memory skills can be learned through long-term deliberate practice; top memory contestants all say they do not have so-called "pictorial memory" but rather develop it through years of hard practice.
"Memory is improved through repetition and systematic practice."
Therefore, the memory ability of memory experts can be said to be based on years of hard practice rather than innate talent. This enables them to stand out in memory competitions and challenge the limits of human memory. Observing these genius memory techniques makes us wonder: In our own lives, can we also improve our memory about ourselves and others through practice?
